1Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.2Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.3Then they will say, ‘We have no king because we did not revere the Lord. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?’4They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a ploughed field.5The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.[1] Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendour, because it is taken from them into exile.6It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.7Samaria’s king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.8The high places of wickedness[2] will be destroyed – it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’9‘Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel, and there you have remained.[3] Will not war again overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?10When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.11Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plough, and Jacob must break up the ground.12Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unploughed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.13But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,14the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated – as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.15So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.
Hosea 10
English Standard Version
1Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. (Ps 80:8; Ho 8:11)2Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord[1] will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.3For now they will say: “We have no king, for we do not fear the Lord; and a king—what could he do for us?” (1Sa 12:12; Ho 10:7; Ho 10:15)4They utter mere words; with empty[2] oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. (Ho 4:2; Ho 12:11; Am 5:7; Am 6:12)5The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf[3] of Beth-aven. Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced over it and over its glory— for it has departed[4] from them. (1Sa 4:21; 1Ki 12:28; Ho 4:15; Ho 9:11)6The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king.[5] Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.[6] (Isa 46:2; Ho 5:13; Ho 11:6)7Samaria’s king shall perish like a twig on the face of the waters. (Ho 10:3)8The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.” (1Ki 12:30; Isa 2:19; Ho 9:6; Ho 10:5; Am 8:14; Lu 23:30; Re 6:16)9From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not the war against the unjust[7] overtake them in Gibeah? (Ho 9:9)10When I please, I will discipline them, and nations shall be gathered against them when they are bound up for their double iniquity. (Ex 32:34; 1Ki 12:28; Ho 7:12)11Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself. (De 25:4; Ho 6:4; 1Co 9:9; 1Ti 5:18)12Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. (Isa 45:8; Jer 4:3; Ho 8:7; Ga 6:8)13You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors, (Ho 8:7)14therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle; mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. (2Ki 17:3; Ho 1:5; Ho 13:16)15Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great evil. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off. (Ho 10:5; Ho 10:6)